When speaking of specific members of the government, 63% of Russians do not know whom to leave in the new government.
Photo: Roman Yarovitsin
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Russians Satisfied with Government
The majority of Russians are satisfied with the current government and see no particular need to change its makeup under prime minister Vladimir Putin, a new survey conducted by the Levada center has found. Levada Center director Lev Gudkov noted that Russians have “a very weak conception of the principle of division of power and the place of the government among the branches of power.” People do understand, however, that the cabinet “is not an independent organ and depends on the president fully.” But society understands the cabinet, not the president, bears responsibility “for all the problems and failures” of the country.
Only once in his eight years in office did Russian President Vladimir Putin have an approval rating as low as 60 percent. That was in August 2000. Except for that period, his approval rating has fluctuated between 65 and 80 percent, and it rose to 85 percent last month. All the while, Russian society has disapproved of the actions of the government, whose approval rate has never rose above 40 percent, except for a few months, until late last year.
Last year, the government's approval rating rose from 40 percent to 53 percent. Now its rating has reached 60 percent. Levada analysts attribute this rise in popularity to “Vladimir Putin's intention to head the government.” Usually, “the effect of an election promise is not so long lasting,” and March and April are known as “depressed” months, when all indicators of public approval fall. Another reason for the publics high spirits is increasing income. Even though people realize that inflation will eat up the extra money, the fact that they receive it gives them hope for the future.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Apr. 21, 2008
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